Cash-register



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

v 0. MQNABB.

CASH REGISTER No. 591,176. Patented Oct. 5,1897.

lll/ YEN TOR v Charles M 5.]1/ 'a'b'b.

135 @C, fifcoc 4141,54,

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

C. MONABB.

CASH REGISTER.

No. 591,176. Patented 00c. 5.1897

H TTES T. INVENTOR ail-y.

UNITED STATES PATENT QEETCE.

CHARLES MCNABB, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

CASH-REGISTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591 ,1'76, dated October 5, 1897.

Application filed March 5, 1897. Serial No. 626,082. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known thatI,CHARLES MCNABB,aciti zen of the United States, residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cash-Registers an d I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a mechanism whereby the amounts indicated on and registered by a cash-register of the usual type may be automatically communicated to and registered or indicated at any desired point. In furtherance of this purpose, on the top of a lateral bar which supports the indicators when they are displayed, or what I term the indicator-carriage of a cash-register of the usual well-known'form, I attach in any well-known manner small plates, preferably of copper, which are carefully insulated from said indicator-carriage and from each other, each of the plates being so arranged as to engage the projection on the rod of some particular indicator when the same is displayed in the well-known manner, being preferably so located that when an indicator is elevated by the action of its ap propriate key the projection on its indicatorrod, which, when the indicator is displayed, is normally engaged directly on the said indicator-carriage, is mounted on one of the said copper plates, each of said plates forming a part of a circuit upon which is an incandescent lamp, the lamps being arranged in a cabinet of any desired shape and each lamp in a compartment to itself. The face of each compartment is constructed, preferably, of glass, and thereupon is painted or otherwise portrayed a number or symbol cor responding to the number or symbol on the cash-register indicator, with the projection on the rod of which is engaged the copper plate in circuit with the lamp in the particular compartment. It follows, therefore, that if a five-cent purchase is registered when the proper indicator is displayed in the usual manner the projection on the rear of the in dicator-rod engages upon the copper plate on said indicator-carriage, the indicator-rod and the projection thereon being of iron or steel, and the register itself being a good conductor and properly grounded in any well-kn own manner it follows that upon the contact of the projection on the indicatonrod with its respective copper plate a circuit is closed through the register and the incandescent lamp in circuit with the particular copper plate which is engaged with the five-cent indicator, whereby the lamp in the corresponding compartment of the cabinet becomes incandescent in the usual manner, thereby illuminating or bringing into relief the number or symbol of its appropriate compartment.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of an ordinary cash-register provided with the insulated plates, 850., hereinafter to be more particularly described,

the rear casing of the register being broken away the better to illustrate the portions of my device contained therein. In this figure a key is shown partially depressed, the indicator-carriage being thereby detracted and disengaged from all the indicator-rods in the well-known manner. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the electric-lamp cabinet, a feature of my device, the face of one of the compartments being broken away, showing the incandescent light contained therein. Fig. 3 is an end View, partly in section, the key havin g been fully depressed and resumed its normal position, and the projection on the rod of the corresponding indicator is in contact with its appropriate copper plate. Fig. 4: is also a front elevation of the electric-lamp cabinet, the number on the glass front of one of the compartments being in relief because of the closing of the circuit through the lamp behind it. Fig. 5 is a detail showing a symbol upon a lamp, a modification of that portion of my device shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Similar reference letters indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, R is a cash-register of the well-known type provided with the operating-keys K K, the indicators I I, and the indicator-carriage L, upon which the indicators I I are adapted to be mounted by means of the projections 10 p on the indicator-rods z' i.

To the indicator-earriage L is attached the copper plates 0 c, which are insulated from said i1idicator-earriage L and from each other by the non-conducting material N, each of said copper plates (1 0 being in circuit with one of the ineainlescent electric lamps E E contained within the compartments .9 s of the cabinet S. The compartment .9 is provided, preferably, with the glass front F, upon which is a number or symbol f. The wires in, connecting the copper plates 0 c with their respective lamps E, are insulated from each other in any usual manner, and are preferably inclosed in the cable W, extending from the cash-register It to the cable S, while in m are the feed and return wires, respectively, common to all light-circuits.

The operation of my device is simple, yet effective. When the key If is fully depressed, a corresponding indicator I is displayed in the usual manner. The indicator-rod i and the projection 17 thereon being composed of iron or steel, it follows that when the projection 19 engages the copper plate 0 the lightcircuit is automatically completed through the incandescent lamp E and the caslrregister R, the latter being grounded in the usual well-known manner, whereupon the com partment of the cabinet S is illuminated and the figure f on the glass front F thereof is illuminated or brought into relief. The indicator I being displayed, and therefore the projection p on the iiiidicator-rod 'i being in contact with the copper plate 0 until the register R is again operated, it followsthat the lamp E continues to illuminate or bring into relief the figure f until the next registration and indication is made by the register, when, as the key Ii is retracted, the indicator I drops in the usual manner, whereby the circuit through the lamp E is automatically broken, thereby extinguishing said lamp and darkening the compartments. The lamp E begins to illuminate 01' bring into relief the figuref of the compartments simultaneously with the engagement of the shoulder p on the indieatonrod i of the indicator I with the copper plate 0, which is in circuit with said lamp E. Each depression of the register-keys therefore breaks the circuit and extingnishos the incandescent lamp, which illuminates 0r brings into relief each particular figure or symbol corresponding to the preceding purchase and at the same time automatically establishes a new circuit, whereby the appropriate lamp illuminates or brings into relief the number or symbol correspond ing to that which is indicated by the register. Each indicator of the register therefore has its corresponding light-circuit, which, when unbroken, actuates a particular incandescent lamp and no other, whereby the figures or symbols on the face of the corresponding compartment of the cabinet is illuminated or displayed in relief.

\Vhile in my device I prefer to use plates of copper to form the connections between the various lightcircuits and the corresponding indicator rods it is evident that said plates may be composed of any other metal or material which is a good conductor of electricity. In this connection I would also call attention to the fact that in lieu of the illumination of the figures or symbols by corresponding electric lamps my device may be so modified as to actuate the operative parts of a registering device at any desired point from the original cash-register, so that when a purchase is registered and indicated on the ordinary machine the contact of the projection on the indicator-rod with its correspomling copper plate completes the circuit through and actuates the operative parts of the istering device at a point more or less remote from the original registration and iinlication.

A bell may also be circuited with my device when the latter is used to illuminate or bring into relief figures or symbols as heretofore set .forth, so that when the light-circuit is tablished and the correspondingiigu re orsyinbol is illuminated or brought; into relief the bell maybe sounded. This feature, however, is unimportant, as the constant clamor of the hell would be more of a nuisance than the hell would be novel. Hence I do not desire to be understood as making any claim for the use of the bell in connection with my device.

It is also apparent that in lieu of the cabinet and compartments the figures or symbols to be displayed may be portrayed in any well-known way on the lamps.

My device beingprimarily intended to more effectually call the attention of customers to the amounts of their purchases it is proper to add that if the compartments, upon the faces of which are electrically displayed the amounts of such purchases, are placed opposite to mirrors, which customers habitually face, the figures or symbols may be rtdiecl'ed upon the mirrors, where they would be bou ud to be noted by the customers. IVhen used in this way, of course the figures or symbols should be reversed on the fronts of the several compartments.

I am aware that a patent has been hereto fore granted to E. D. Gibbs, No. 509,058, dat ed November 28, 1893, who perfects a means for illuminating the front of a eash'register and incidentally the indicators ilaccd therein, and in this application I expressly disclaim the idea of illuminating the caslrregistm' or any part thereof in any way.

\Vhat I do claim, and desire to secure Letters Patent of the United States, is-- 1. The combination, with a cash-re a of electric circuits, 'iiulicators interpl ,d therein and adapted to be operated by said electric circuits when established, and a circuit-breaker common to and controlled by the operating-keys of the machine, whereby said circuits may be automatieal ly cstal dished and broken at each operation of the register, sub stantially as described.

2. The combination, of the indieatonrotls of a cash-register, with electric circuits, corresponding in number to the number of said indicator-rods, incandescent lamps on each of said circuits, symbols on said lamps corresponding to the symbols or indicators operated by said indicator-rods, means for operating said indicator-rods, and means for opening and closing said electric circuits through said indicator-rods and incandescent lamps, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a cash-register, of the indicators, the indicator-rods, the indicator-carriage, projections on said indicatorrods adapted to engage 011 said indicator-carriage when said indicators are displayed in the well-known manner, connecting-plates attached to the top of said indicator-carriage and to be interposed between the projections on said indicator-rods and said indicator-carriage, when corresponding indicators are displayed, means for insulating said connecting plates from said indicator-carriage and from each other, means whereby the projections on said indicator-rods may be engaged with, and disengaged from, said connectingplates, when said indicators are operated, means for operating said indicators, electric circuits adapted to be established and broken when the projections on said indicator-rods are engaged with, and disengaged from, said connecting-plates, respectively, and incandescent lamps adapted to display figures or symbols when said circuits are established, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a cash-register, of the indicators, the indicator-rods, the indicator-carriage, projections on said indicatorrods adapted to engage on said indicator-carriage when said indicators are displayed in the well-known manner, connecting-plates attached to the top of said indicator-carriage and to be interposed between the projections on said indicator-rods and said indicator-carriage, when corresponding indicators are displayed, means for insulating said connectingplates from said indicator-rods and from each other, means whereby the projections on said indicator-rods may be engaged with, and disengaged from, said connecting-plates, when said indicators are operated, means for operating said indicators, electric circuits adapted to be established and broken when the projections on said indicator-rods are engaged with, and disengaged from, said connecting plates, respectively, and incandescent lamps, each in a separate compartment of a suitable cabinet and adapted, when said circuits are established, to display figures or symbols on the fronts of said compartments correspondin g to the figures or symbols on the indicators of the cash-register when said circuits are established, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a cash-register, of the indicators, the indicator-rods, the indicator-carriage, projections on said indicatorrods adapted to engage on said indicator-carriage when said indicators are displayed in the well-known manner, connecting-plates, attached to the top of saidindicator-carriage and to be interposed between the projections on said indicator-rods and said indicator-carriage when corresponding indicators are displayed, means forinsulating said connectingplates from said indicator-carriage and from each other, means whereby the projections on said indicator-rods may be engaged with, and disengaged from, said connecting-plates when said indicators are operated, means for operating said indicators, electric circuits adapted to be established and broken when the projections on said indicator-rods are engaged with,- and disengaged from, said connectingplates, respectively, and auxiliary indicators, at a point remote from the register but corresponding in significance with the indicators thereon, and adapted to be operated when said circuits are established, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a cash-register, of the indicators, the indicator-rods, the indicator-carriage, projections on said indicatorrods adapted to engage on said indicator-carriage, when said indicators are displayed in the well-known manner, connecting-plates attached to the top of said indicator-carriage and to be interposed between the projections on said indicator-rods and said indicator-carriage when corresponding indicators are displayed, means for insulating said connectingplates from said indicator-carriage and from each other, means whereby the projections on said indicator-rods may be engaged with, and disengaged from, said connecting Tplates, when said indicators are operated, means for operating said indicators, electric circuits adapted to be established and broken when the projections on said indicator-rods are engaged with, and disengaged from, said connecting-plates, respectively, and an auxiliary indicating device at a point remote from the first-named cash-register, adapted to be operated when said circuits are established, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES MONABB.

Witnesses:

W. O. LAwsoN, En. SOHIRMER. 

